Shield for motor-car radiators



Dec. 22 1925- M. D. RATHBUN SHIELD FOR MOTOR CAR RADIATORS Original Filed Jan. 5, 1922 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 4M HTTORP/EY.

Patented Dec. 22,1925.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

MILO D. RATHBUN, OF GRAND RAPIDS, MICHIGAN, ASSIGNOR T0 THOMAS E. WEIR, OF MUNCIE. INDIANA.

SHIELD FOR MOTOR-CAR RADIATORS.

Application. filed January 3, 1922, Serial No. 526,822. Renewed May 23, 1925.

To all whom it may concern.

Be it known that I, Mrno D. RATHBUN, citizen of the" United States, residing at Grand Rapids, in the county of Kent and State of Michigan, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Shields for Motor-Car Radiators, of which the follownected to the radiator and which device is operable by the driver, from his seatedposition'in the car, to control the air current flowing through the radiator. More specific objects of the invention are to provide a device of the kind described which will be durable, light in weight, dependable, economical of manufacture, and easy to install and to operate.

The invention consists of a shield or frame made of imperforate material adapted to be attached to the front of the radiator, and in which frame are openings, closed by movable doors, the said doors, after the manner of shutters, having devices between them so arranged that when actuated the doors are moved to open or close the said openings; and means operable by the driver to actuate th said devices.

A preferred form of embodiment of my invention and for carrying the invention into etl'ect,'consists of the new construction, com bination and arrangement of parts shown in the accompanying drawings and described in the following specification. The invention is. defined in the appended claims.

In the drawings, the several parts of the invention are identified by suitable characters of reference applied thereto in the different views, in which Figure 1 is a front view of my improved radiator shield.

Figure 2 is a top plan view; and

Figure 3 is a rear view.

Figure l is a vertical sectional View taken on the line l-l in Figure 1.

Figure ii is a horizontal sectional View of a p rti n at the t p plate taken on t e lin 5 of Fig. 1 and as seen in the direction indi cated by the arrow.

Figure 6 is an enlarged horizontal sectional view taken on the line 6-6 in Figure 1 and in the direction indicated by the arrow.

Figure 7 is a detached enlarged view-of the lower portion of one of the shutter-like doors.

Figure 8 is a vertical sectional view taken on the line 8-8 in Figure 7.

In this showing of my invention, the shield, made of sheet metal, is of dimensions suitable to be placed at and secured to the front of any standard fiat faced form of automobile radiator. Features of my invention are the details of construction and combination whereby the shield proper, the doors, and all the connections, are not only capable of economical construction, but the device as an entirety is rugged, durable and easy to install.

The top and bottom plates A and 13, respectively, and the side plates C and D may be made of wood or of cast metal, but are preferably of sheet steel of twenty to twenty two gauge thickness. By reference to Figure 3 the construction of these plates may readily be understood. The curled outer edge of each of these plates lends stiffness to the plate, constitutes a finish for the outer portion of the plate, and is adapted to be brought down to gripping engagement with asbestos filler (not shown) and which may be used in combination with the plate. To lend additional stiffness to the side or vertical plates C and I), each is provided with a bead or crimp near its outer edge. These plates secured together at their ends, may be so secured, by brazing and by rivets E The interior edge of the plate A and of the plate B is bent at a right angle to form cheeks A and B and the jambs A and 13 respectively. Similarly, the inner edges of the plates C and D are formed to provide the cheeks C and D and the jambs G and D Plate E is secured at its ends to the plates A and B, its edges being bent to form the cheeks E and the jambs E the said plate being at central position, two vertical openings in the shield frame are provided. In each of these openings is arranged a door G made of sheet steel its edges being bent inwardly to retain. the asbestos sheet G The hinge rod H has its ends journaled in'holes provided thereforin the cheeks A and B The said doors are of dimension tooccupy the said openings With proper clearance, and

whenclosed to rest immediately against the with a. transverse bore through which the rod L may slide freely, is passed .throughan aperturein 'the plate B, and has bearing in 1 block M secured toplate B. A coil spring fi betweenithe block M and the collar M urges the bar M normally to the retracted position; shown. The rear end ofthe actuatingbaris threadediand adapted to receive reach-rod connections (not shown) to extend .t-o. proper looationin the car, so that the car driver may move the actuating bar.

The normal posltion of the doors is closed as shown 111 Figure 6. In this position the doors lie. against the cheeks and jambsand passing of air. through the shield isprevented. this being very essential .in the con- ,servation of the radiator and of. the. motor duringthe cold Weather. To open the doors,

the dri erp lshes the actuating bar: forward.

With the consequent movement forwardly of .the connecting rod.,L and the doorsare swung to an open position, as vShOWII by the .dotted lines in Eigure 6. as

. to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. A shield, foran automobile radiator,

What I claim as nay-invention, and desire comprising a frame adapted to be fastened 2. In a shield for automobile radiators, a

frame comprising top andbottom plates having interior opposed inturned flanges, side plates having interior opposed inturned flanges, a central plate having an inturned flange on both sides, doors to fit the openings formed by the said plates, hinge bars through said doors and journaled in said flangts, a bracket. having an eyelet securez on the end of each door. a connecting rod having its ends disposed loosely in said eye lets, an actuating bar journaled slidingly at apoint between the doors and having a head with a transverse bore to engage said connecting bar loosely, anda spring to urge the saidactuating bar toretracted position.

3. A, shield of the kind described, comprising a. frame adapted to be fastened to a radiator and being provided with vertical openings, a door hinged at each of said open .ings, a bracket having an eyelet secured on the .endof each door, a connecting rod haviingzits end portions disposed loosely in said eyelets, a knob on each end of the said connecting rod, andan actuating element open able through the frame, to move the said connecting rod.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

MILO D. RACEHBUN. 

